Police have arrested four youths - including a 12-year-old boy - after a car was stolen in West Auckland.
Waitematā West Area response manager Senior Sergeant Damian Albert said a unit saw the vehicle travelling through Rānui just after 3am.
The Police Eagle helicopter deployed to the area and followed the car.
“Eagle continued to monitor the vehicle’s movements and provided updates to units on the ground,” Albert said.
“Spikes were successfully deployed in the Glen Eden area and the vehicle stopped on West Coast Rd.”
Officers caught two passengers while the driver and another passenger escaped on foot and attempted to hide nearby.
“Eagle was still overhead and directed staff to their hiding spot behind a building, and they were arrested without incident,” Albert said.
“This involved good co-ordination between a range of police resources overnight, resulting in the matter being brought to a safe conclusion with apprehensions made.”
The 12-year-old male driver is set to face the courts, with the remaining passengers being dealt with through the Youth Aid process.
The 19-year-old disappeared without her wallet or mobile phone.